Atmospheric microbes

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

Introduction

By Robert Gallo

The atmosphere, despite lacking a constant medium for organisms to live on, contains many microbes that live in it. Microbes enter the atmosphere as soil is lifted from the surface by winds, bringing the microbes that live in that soil into the atmosphere as well.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title While previously these microbes were thought to be exclusively dormant, there is a growing body of work demonstrating atmospheric microbes that have an active metabolism.<ref>[1]<ref> While studying these organisms remains difficult due to the lack of a standardized method of capturing and culturing them,<ref name=1> these organisms are researched for their interactions with the terrestrial biosphere, their potential role as condensation nuclei, and as a possible model for extraterrestrial life.

The Environment of the Atmosphere

Microbial Ecology of the Atmosphere

Microbes and Cloud Formation

A Model for Extraterrestrial Life?

Subtopic 3

Key Microbes of the Atmosphere

Conclusion

References